From Intake to Outcomes: Managing Summer Space Crises with Animal Case Management
[embedded content] Summer is a challenging time for animal shelters, often coming with high intake numbers and slowed adoptions—that can be a recipe for a space crisis. To get more pets out, shelters are getting creative. Mara Hartsell, Shelter Support Advisor for American Pets Alive!, is sharing how shelters can (and are!) use a case management approach to move more pets through the sheltering system. In this recording, Mara will cover four action categories that can speed up the outcomes process and reduce length of stay for the...
Critically Endangered Pygmy Sloths of Panama are Slipping Away
Most of us are familiar with sloths. They are those strange, slow-moving creatures with scary-long nails that bring unsettling B-level horror movies to mind. Yet they have one of the sweetest, gentlest faces of any creature on the planet. Found throughout Central America and northern South America (including Venezuela and parts of Brazil and Peru), the docile animals spend most of their time hiding up in the trees of tropical rainforests, with much of it spent curled up in a comfy crook or hanging upside down from leafy limbs providing...
Frozen Dog Treats: DIY Pupsicles
When the hot summer months hit, your dog enjoys a frozen treat as much as you. These pupsicles, popsicles for dogs, are a festive addition to your 4th of July celebrations. Materials for frozen dog treats: Plastic cup Unsweetened yogurt Blueberries Strawberries Chew sticks Scissor Use any dog-safe fruit your pup enjoys! © Linda Facci Instructions: Gather your supplies Split the ingredients into 4 even layers. Put a layer of yogurt on bottom of cup, layer on some strawberries, add more yogurt, layer on blueberries and top off with more...
The Plight of the American Kestrel: A Species In Decline While Others Bounce Back
The American kestrel, a small and flashy falcon found coast to coast, has experienced a sharp decline in population. This decline is particularly concerning as birds of prey in North America are generally considered a conservation success story. While species like bald eagles and red-tailed hawks have thrived, the American kestrel has faced a puzzling decline that researchers are striving to understand, Audubon reports. The American kestrel holds a significant place in North America’s avian landscape. While they are not currently...
You Should Be Doing Fee-Waived Adoptions This Summer
Intakes have overtaken positive outcomes for shelter pets. With summer coming, the need to increase accessibility and remove barriers to pets going into homes only grows more urgent. We’re diving in over the next few months to see what data and research can tell us about ways to move shelter pets to adoptions more quickly—beginning with this blog on the research supporting fee-waived adoptions. Shelter operations should utilize rapid intake to placement procedures to support pets leaving the shelter as soon as possible...
6 Reasons Your Dog Needs Collagen
One of the most important proteins in your dog’s body is collagen. It’s needed for healthy joints, bones, and muscles. Learn more about collagen, six reasons your dog needs it, and the one easy way to include more of it in your pup’s diet! Collagen is a protein that the body uses to create connective tissues found in the skin, bones, muscles, and more. Your dog’s body naturally produces collagen. However, as they get older, production slows down. When this happens, your pup needs to get more of it from their diet. And...
Dog Went Missing and Surprisingly Survived Five Weeks Alone in the Mountains
Although dogs are happy and content in their forever homes, they are tempted by outdoor adventures. The furs of sunshine would like to explore places and feed their curious minds. That’s why whenever there’s a chance to freely run, they would grab the opportunity. However fascinating, your role as a pet parent is to ensure safe outdoor exploration. Keep an eye on them and immediately call them out whenever they stray too far. Your pet might end up getting lost due to being immersed in the moment. Their fascination can distract...
A Shark Celebrated and Expressed Gratitude to the Scuba Diver Who Saved Him from Distress
Scuba diving is certainly a life-changing recreational activity. The skill allows you to experience the marine environment up close. You get to see underwater animals that you don’t interact with every day. It feels like you are swimming in another dimension — exploring what others don’t get to experience most of their life. Scuba diving is also a humbling experience as you realize that the world is truly huge. There is a lot to discover and wonder about. You just swim there and realize that you are a small part of the...
Pup with Serious Condition ‘Saved From the Brink of Death’
The following story was a finalist in the Pawsitively Picture Perfect photo contest. The top three finishers received $500 in cash, as well as $2,000 in cash and supplies for their favorite shelter. To read more stories, click here! Chili is my grandpuppy that I keep all week while her parents are working… and some weekends. She was 12-weeks-old when my daughter found her advertised and had been kept in a kennel most of the time. She was forced to eat her own feces to keep her kennel clean. I tossed that kennel right out after the...
A Sheep Successfully Learned to Stand Again After 29 Days of Daily Rehabilitation Sessions
Animals suffering from disabilities and diseases are truly saddening to witness. It’s even more heartbreaking when no one comes for help, and they struggle alone. Without proper medical care, the condition only worsens — as if they are just waiting for death. A lot of nonprofit organizations were established after being aware of insufficient animal care. They make it their mission to rescue and provide rehabilitation for those in need. Some focus on wildlife, while others take in farm animals, including dogs or cats. The internet...
A Couple is Determined to Carry Cat Parent Responsibilities but Younger Sister Fights for Custody
Having a pet seems so easy when you’re young because adults would take care of almost everything. Family pets are like the extended children of your parents or kids of your older siblings. Cats and dogs might be family pets, but true custody belongs to the person that can provide for their needs. A reliable pet parent must have sufficient money to afford food, vet care, and other essentials. They should also be able to provide a safe and comfortable household — not just locked up in a bedroom or a cage. Pets deserve to be taken...
Running with Shelter Dogs in Minnesota is the Latest Fitness Craze
As adoptions taper off, overwhelmed shelters and rescues all across the country are doing their best to ensure that the animals in their care receive physical and mental enrichment. They rely heavily on volunteers to make that happen, which is where the rest of us come in. Pets in any situation need to receive proper nutrition, mental stimulation, and emotional support. Place them in a kennel setting and those requirements are even more vital for maintaining the health of the animal. Photo: Pixabay/wal_172619 In Minneapolis, the city’s...
Get a Glimpse into the Destroyed Villages and Persevering Spirit of Ukraine as We Continue to Serve Those in Need
https://d1dd4ethwnlwo2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/video-output-D2B4EA94-59A7-43D0-8DE5-2C7F5B9AEEE0-online-video-cutter.com_.mp4 As the war in Ukraine continues to rage on, we’d like to keep you updated on the important work we and our partners are doing there to serve the people in need. Along the way, you’ll catch a glimpse of the catastrophic scope of the destruction the Russian attacks have had on many of the cities and villages located in or near the war zone. You’ll also see the tenacity and resiliency...
Ask Dr. Aziza: Should I Be Concerned About My Dog’s Bad Breath?
Bad breath in dogs, also known as Halitosis, is a foul odor that comes from the mouth or oral cavity. The most common cause of halitosis is periodontal disease, which is a widespread concern in veterinary medicine. Let’s look into some of the causes of bad breath in dogs as well as how it can be treated and prevented in the future. What causes bad breath in dogs? There are five main reasons why a dog could have bad breath – let’s discuss each one more closely. Dental plaque: Plaque is a buildup of bacteria that accumulates...
Store Cats Follow Daily “Work” Routine That Includes Naps And Snuggles
It’s hard being a cat! At least, it is if you ask Daniel and Bigfoot, who are informally employed by a store in Oregon. Lauren (TikTok user @shoppers_hardware) helps run the family-owned Shoppers Hardware in Portland. However, she doesn’t work alone. She has the help of two “employees,” a grey tabby cat named Daniel and an orange tabby cat named Bigfoot. Photo: TikTok/@shoppers_hardware Lauren shared on TikTok that Bigfoot is a newer employee who was originally supposed to be temporary. However, he quickly settled into...
Stolen Donkey Foal Returns Home For Sweet Reunion With Mom
A tiny donkey foal has been reunited with her mom after being stolen weeks prior. On May 15, Miller’s Ark took to Facebook to share the sad news that their foal, Moon, had been stolen. Photo: Facebook/Miller’s Ark They said, “Sadly this afternoon at Miller’s Ark little Moon has been stolen from the field. We are completely devastated and incredibly concerned, she was only born at the beginning of March and needs to be with her Mum.This little donkey will be braying loudly tonight because she will be missing her mum...
Senior Kitty Bella Has a Lot of Life Left in Her & Plenty of Love to Share
Introducing dear, sweet Bella! She is a beautiful (like her name suggests) senior girl who reportedly lived in a quiet home her entire life. Sadly, Bella was brought in by her previous owner for surrender at the age of 14. The San Diego Humane Society, where she currently resides, is still getting to know her. She’s been fearful in their care to date, as she’s obviously very confused as to why she’s there. Photo: SDHS With a little time and patience, however, the shelter staff are confident this lovely calico girl with the...
Top 5 Water Dog Breeds
Many dogs enjoy spending time in the water, but some breeds of dogs were developed specifically to hunt, help, and work in the water alongside people. The top water dog breeds tend to have these features: strong and agile swimmers water-repellent coats to keep them warm while diving into frigid waters some breeds have webbed feet. If you love spending time near the water and are considering adding a new dog to your family, a water-loving breed is the right fit for you. Keep in mind that each of these dog breeds is active and needs...
Young Chance, the Black Lab, Has a Golden Personality He’d Like to Share
Hello all! Chance here … sharing about myself to find that lucky forever family. I am a 1-year-old male Labbie mix that exudes a zest for life, suggested by my abundant energy. I was discovered as a stray roaming in the desert heat when a good Samaritan rescued me and contacted DLRR to take me in so I would be well cared for until my forever family appeared. Lucky me, right? I have a wonderful personality, adore people, and get along well with other dogs but cats … well, I’m not sure. I am reportedly responsible and...
Stray Dog Found In Excruciating Pain With Fractured Spine Needs Your Help To Recover
Every day animals arrive at shelters in need of emergency medical care that can be thousands of dollars. Many shelters and rescues are unable to afford these expensive procedures. That is where your generous donations can help save the lives of dogs like Turkey. The stray one-year-old German shepherd was facing euthanasia due to her extensive injuries after being hit by a car. She arrived at a Texas shelter in excruciating pain with a fractured spine and several soft tissue injuries. Photo: Shenandoah Shepherd Rescue Shenandoah Shepherd...
